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Terror ride

HAVE-A-GO-HERO . . . bandaged Ian Flint with the van outside his store. After this photograph was taken, the vehicle was stolen for a second time and has not yet been recovered.

Ian dragged for 400 yards at 60mph by van thief

A SHOP owner was subjected to a terrifying rush-hour ordeal when a thug sped off in his van at 60mph with him clinging to the window.

Ian Flint hung on for 400 terrifying yards, finally jumping off when the thief briefly stopped.

He suffered bruising to his arms and was treated at the Royal Oldham Hospital, while the van was later found abandoned.

However, relief at his lucky escape turned to despair when it is believed the same

Date published: 03/07/2009

Fire chaos halts rush-hour trains

Commuters faced rail misery this morning as services from Oldham to Manchester were halted by a suspected arson attack.

Trains from Shaw, Oldham, Werneth, Hollinwood, Failsworth and Mills Hill were all affected by an early-morning fire in two control cabinets at Collyhurst.

The incident left hundreds struggling to get to work. Northern Rail was forced to lay on shuttle...

Date published: 03/07/2009

Child pics allegation: teacher says computers not secure

A TEACHER arrested on suspicion of downloading indecent images of children has denied the allegations.

And Nigel Hooley claims there have been a number of incidents when computers have not been secure at South Chadderton School where he is head of maths.

The 32-year-old was suspended after the images were found on a laptop at the Butterworth Lane school on June 17....

Date published: 03/07/2009

Family’s tribute to caring son

STEPHEN JONES

Biker killed in collision was ‘cool, inspiring and unique’

A GRIEVING family has paid tribute to a caring son and an inspiring brother who died in a crash on a notorious...

Date published: 03/07/2009

New life ends in tragedy

AN Oldham man who moved to Plymouth to start a new life has died in a flat fire.

Darren Rostron (37) was killed when a chip-pan blaze is believed to have started at his new home in the Stoke area of the city.

Mr Rostron had moved south about five weeks ago.

His body was found in a bedroom in the smoke-filled house on June 22, but he was only formally identified on...

Date published: 03/07/2009

No tax hike for Metrolink move

There will be no massive rise in council tax to pay for Oldham’s £84m town centre Metrolink service, Oldhamers have been assured by council leader Howard Sykes.

But council tax payers will contribute towards it for the next 35 years.

The cost of building Metrolink, modernising stations and creating park and ride schemes will have totalled £106m by...

Date published: 03/07/2009

Tales of Oldham go Stateside

Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Phil Woolas believes no one is too important to miss out on the goings-on in Oldham.

So when the Immigration Minister met up with his US counterpart — Janet Napatalino, head of homeland security — at the American Embassy in London, he did not miss the opportunity to spread the word.

Not being fazed that she is the forth most...

Date published: 03/07/2009

Five-star John has massive appetite... for success

John Stevenson in kitchen whites at the Hilton in Thailand

Oldham Works: a major Chronicle campaign to boost Oldham, its business, and its people

A LOVE of cooking — and food, he readily admits — has led to a new lease of life for...

Date published: 03/07/2009

Ex-council houses to be bought back

FAMILIES in Oldham are set to benefit from five more affordable homes in the borough after a £300,000 grant was awarded to First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO).

Five more empty houses will now be brought back into use after the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) issued the grant to FCHO, who is responsible for managing the council’s housing stock.

It will buy...

Date published: 03/07/2009

Chaos as storm swamps store

Jennifer Taylor and husband Bill who have hit out at Asda Living’s evacuation procedure

Couple say evacuation was a “living nightmare”

A COUPLE have hit out at a store’s evacuation policy after their shopping trip turned into a washout.

William and...

Date published: 03/07/2009

£50m revamp for airport terminal

SHOPPERS’ delight . . . even more high street names have been attracted to the airport.

MANCHESTER airport’s flagship Terminal One has been given a £50 million makeover, based on the advice of physchologists.

Passengers jetting off from Thursday this week were...

Date published: 03/07/2009

Class of ’49 reunited

Raising a glass to the old Failsworth Secondary Modern . . . the class of ‘49

It may be 60 years since they left the classroom, but these old boys still have fond memories of Failsworth Secondary Modern School for Boys.

The Partington Street school was recently...

Date published: 03/07/2009

Playground party

Good taste! Westwood Primary School's street party

HOW’S about hat! Oldham’s Mayoress helps five-year-old Imran Hussain try on some special headgear at Westwood Primary School.

Councillor Kay Knox joined in the colourful...

Date published: 03/07/2009

A blooming good launch

Oldham Mayor Councillor Jim McArdle with festival supporters, including (front row, from left) Lee Gannon (chargehand Britain in Bloom team); Myra Wyers (Link Centre); Anna Morell (Groundwork volunteer) and Jan Robinson (festival development officer)

OLDHAM Festival of Diversity has launched its summer programme in partnership with the borough’s Bloom and Grow initiative.

The Mayor, Councillor Jim McArdle, showed off the...

Date published: 03/07/2009

Race’s record bid

THE head office of Saddleworth nursing agency, Castlerock Care, has signed up to a wacky world record attempt to raise money for breast cancer research.

The company will take part in a derby with a difference at Windsor racecourse tomorrow.

It will feature pantomime horses which will compete in qualifying derbies, dressage competitions and a grand final.

Castlerock...

Date published: 03/07/2009

Charity pair head for the hills

The Chronicle backs the Oldham Christie Appeal

FORMER Hulme Grammar School pals Justin Nolan and James Wild are poised to tackle a tough three peaks challenge to boost the Christie’s at Oldham appeal.

Justin (27), James and 10 of their friends will leave for Scotland today, ready to start the feat which will involve them scaling Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and...

Date published: 03/07/2009

Payback gang in site clearance

Watching an offender at work are, from left, Councillor David Shaw, Jan Joshi (Royton, Shaw and Crompton Neighbourhood manager), PCSO Deborah Gilbert, Chris Oakley (Oldham Community Payback manager) and Derek Robinson (supervisor)

AN illegal dumping ground in Shaw was top of the list when residents voted for which area they wanted cleaned up by offenders.

Beard Street, off Shaw Road, Royton, is now spick and span...

Date published: 03/07/2009

Little bundles of joy

IT’S a wrap . . . (from left) Beth Wright, Shirley Thornley, Barbara Jones, Julia Green, Pat Bridgestock and Sue Warburton

TINY babies will get their own special quilts to comfort them, courtesy of a group of industrious Saddleworth women.

The needlework enthusiasts meet every Tuesday at Saddleworth museum...

Date published: 03/07/2009

Mr Muscles tells pupils to eat healthily

GIRL power . . . pictured at the school, from left, Nick Rattue, Hannah Bradshaw, Sam Rathbone, Kerry Kayes and Shannon Tran

A FORMER Great Britain body building champion paid a visit to Failsworth School to educate young people about the importance of a healthy diet.

Kerry Kayes, who also won the Britain...

Date published: 03/07/2009

Councillors raise concerns over new meetings format

West Oldham Districtm partnership report

LOCAL representatives and residents were given an outline of what to expect from the new West Oldham District Partnership meetings and ward forums.

Neighbourhood manager Zaime Khan said the new format, which replaced four area committees within the ward, will be more business-led while the forums will allow community engagement....

Date published: 03/07/2009

Canal craft chance for the creative

Admirers of the decorative canal art, Roses and Castles, a familiar sight on the UK’s canal network, have the chance to learn the craft from an expert tomorrow.

Roses and Castles has become the popular term for the paintwork which dates back to the industrial revolution and can include a number of different flowers featured alongside castles. The decoration is seen...

Date published: 03/07/2009

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